Aeroplane.



G. E. HANES.

AEROPLANE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 23,1912.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR (Saar-9e E. Hones ATTORNEYS G. E. HANES.

AEROPLANE.

7 APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1912.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR George E. Homes ATTORNEYS lune-alum c0.. wumnu'rord. a. c

GEORGE ELDEN H ANES, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

.AEROPLANE.

Specification of Letters ia tent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

Application filed May 23, 1912. Serial No. 699,135.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. Hanna, a citizen of the United States, and a restdent of Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented a new and Improved Aeroplane, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in air ships, and particularly to aeroplanes, and has for an object to provide anamproved structure in which the balancing mechanism is simplified for quickly restoring the balance or equilibrium to the aeroplane at any time.

A further object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane with automatically operating means for causing the aeroplane to recover after the same has been tilted to one side.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an aeroplane in which the lifting plane or planes are pivotally mounted on a bearing shaft which carries a supporting framework for supporting the aeroplane when on the earth, and for supporting the principal parts of the device which have an appreciable weight, whereby the planes may be easily adjusted in respect to the weight carried thereby for causing a variation 1n the lifting action of the planes for raising and lowering the aeroplane, and for other reasons as occasion may demand.

In carrying out the objects of the invention, a plane is provided formed with a plurality of independent sections arranged in the same horizontal plane. These planes are held properly in position by stifi'ening ribs and by a suitable depending framework,

together with guy ropes or lines. Pivotally mounted centrally of the planes is a journal shaft which carries the framework, including the driving mechanism, operators seat, skids, and other necessary attachments, including adjustable mechanism engaging the framework depending from the planes whereby the incidence of the planes may be varied.

A practical embodiment ofthe invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention, one edge of the planes being broken off Fig. 2 is a'side view of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail side view of the rear end of the skid showing an earth-engaging brake mechanism; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail fragmentary perspective'view of part of an adjusting mechanism for varying the angle -of the planes; and Fig. 5 is a front view of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a plane in its entirety, 2 the framework for bracing the same, 3 a pivotally mounted frame, and 4: a supporting skid structure. The plane 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, is formed of a plurality of auxiliary planes 5 having spaces (3 therebetween, and held in place by suitable bracing ribs 7 and 8, the bracing ribs 7 being formed double and bolted together, or secured together in any other desired manner. Each of the auxiliary planes 5 is formed substantially arc-shaped, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, with the exception of the front plane which is formed with a flattened front portion 9 which extends directly to the front and parallel with the earth when the entire plane structure 1 is substantially parallel with the earth. This provides an entering edge 10 forentering the air and causing the various planes 5 to strike against the air in the passage of the machine in flight.

The framework 2 is rigidly connected with the plane 1 in any desiredmanner, and has the front bar 11 formed so as to pass through the plane 1 at the point 12 for forming a brace or staff 13. An auxiliary bracing rod 14.- is provided which extends from the upper end of the bracing rod 13 to the point 15, and from thence down to the rod 11 at the point 16. The rod 13 is designed to have any desired number of guy wires 17 connected therewith for bracing the frame 2, and the plane 1. A rod 18 similar to the rod 11, is provided at the rear of the machine which passes through the frame 2 at 19 and forms a rear staff 20 adapted to carry a rudder 21. Connected with the upper end of the staff 20 is a bracing rod 22 which extends in an inclined direction forwardly and passes througlir' plane 1 at the point 23 and from thence down to the rod 18 at the point 24. Connecting the rods 11 and 18, and extending from points 16 to 24, is an areshaped bearing member 25, the particular construction of which is better seen in Fig. 4 wherein it will be observed that it is formed substantially in the shape of! an Edie-am, thus defining grooves 26 and 27. The groove 27.is designed to accommodate the upper edge of an arc-shaped portion 28 of the skid 4. The groove 26 is designed to accommodate a pulley structure 29 over which pass cords 30 and 31. The cord 30 passes over one side of the pulley and then to a point 32, while the cord 31 passes over the opposite side of the pulley 29 and to the point where it is secured. The pulley 29 is mounted upon a shaft 34 which is preferably bent for providing bracing arms 36 which are rigidly secured or merge into a shaft 37 which carries the traction wheels 38 and 39. The shaft 37 is continually maintained a short distance above the arc-shaped bearing'member so as to permit a free back and forth movement ofthe arc-shaped bearing member 25 in 29..

respect to the skid 4 and associated parts. The cords or cables and 31 extend upwardly from the spool or pulley 2&7 and are reversely wound onthe 'drum 40-held in place by suitable brackets 41. -The shaft 42 01: the steeragewheel 43 is connected by a universal j oint-44 to the drum H4Oso that whenever it is desired to shift the Hity, thus resulting .the cords 30 or 31 and unwinding t @site cord whereby the skid 4 and associated -devices will be shifted longitudinally of the bearing member 25 and consequently and on the ash; 37.

angle ofi'ncidence of the plane 1 the steerage wheel 43 is moved for windin one of e oppowiil cause a shifting of the center of gravin tilting the planesin either direction. Before the shaft 34 is bent to form the bracing arms 35 and 36, the

is passed through a bracing standard ,45 which isi rigidly connected at 46 to the skid 4. "This permits a proper fulcrum action between the cords 30 and 31"and associated parts and the sk d, so as to move or rather tilt the aeropla e in respect to the skid '4, the skid 4 and associated parts by their weight resisting any swinging movement.

- The skid 4 has rigidly secured thereto not only the bracing standard 45, but the bracing standard 47'which extends upwardly and is pivoted to a cross journal 48. The cross journal'48 is mounted upon suitable bearings carried by the bracing ribs? and 8. The bracing standard 4-7 is pivotally mount.- ed on the shaft 48,-wbilc the standard is rigidly secured to a supporting framework 'ii to which is secured the engine 50. The framework 4.) is pivotally mounted at 51 on the shaft 4. 5 so that the engine will move or swing with the skid 4. In addition to these members pair tubular members and 53'; are pimtaii; mou ed on the journal or shaft 4-8 and extend i an inclined direction downwardly, sbcwn in Fig. 5. Into members and 53 are slidingly fitted d 55 Qivh we journalcd at 5C tops 58 and 59 are 35 and the roar part of the arc-shaped "member 25. roller 64 extends through the bracing stand rigidly secured in any desired manner to the bars 54 and 55 so to springs 60 and 61. The springs 60 and 61 hear at one end against the stops just described and at the opposite ends against the lower ends of the two members 52 and 53.

.By this construction and arrangement the springsv are designed to take up any shock in landing as the same will permit the bars 54 and 55 to telescope therein against the action of the springs 60 and'fil. If the shock in landing is very great the springs will be compressed until the skid 4 engages the earth for substantially its full length and then the skid will take the remaining part of the shock. Pivotally mounted on the journal or shaft 48 is an operator sseat 62 which has connected therewith a brace 63: carrying on itslower end a roller 64 de-' signed to fit into the groove 26 for guiding caring The shaft 65 which carries tho.

ard 47 so as to properly hold the brace (33 in position. In order to give a better support for the center of the plane 1, and also properly support the for the center of the arc-shaped bearing member 25, a pair of bracing rods 66 and 67 are connected with shaft 48 and also in any desired manner at the point 68 to the hearing member 25. Upon the movement of the plane 1, the bracing rods 66 and 67 will move pivotally with the remaining part of the frame 3, while the skid 4, members'45 and 47, and connected parts will remain substantially stationary, the same being held in that position by gravity.

Arranged at the rear bf the skid 4 is a brake pin 69 fitting into an aperture 70.

The pin 69 is secured to a spring 71 in any' desired manner which is connected at 72 'to the skid 4. A pivotally mounted trigger 73 is provided which normally holds the spring 72 and pin 69 in an elevated posit'on, as shown in Fi 3, but is adapted to be moved from beneat the spring 71 whereupon the spring 71,will depress the pin 6!) audcausc the same to project through the aperture and into the earth. This is what might be called an emergency brake to be used in case the aeroplane cannot be otherwise stopped as soon as desired after alighting. A cable76 is connected with the trigger 73 and is passed over. suitable pulleys to a position near the operators seat so that the operator can easily release the spring when ever desired.

The rudder 21 has connected therewith cords or cables 77 and 78 which are passed over suitable guiding pulleys or guiding tubes and are secured at 79 to the shaft of the steerage wheel 43, whereby when the steel-age wheel 43 is moved laterally the rudder will be correspondingly moved, this movement being made without in any Way till) affecting the angle of incidence of the plane 1.

Arranged on the upper part of the machine is an automatic balancing mechanism designed to,auto1natically engage the air to a greater or less extent when the device is tilted toone side so as to cause the air pressure on that side and from the front to tend to right or restore the machine to a proper equilibrium. In forming this mechanism, a pair of standards and 81 are provided, which are suitably braced by guy Wires 82 which are connected in any desired manner to the members. Pivotally mounted on these standards are planes S3 and 84 which arenornially set at an angle so that the planes will converge centrally and at a lower point on the frame 3. Brae ing rods 85 and 86 are provided for positively holding the planes 83 and 84 from tilting to any greater extent independently of the machine. However, these planes, inciuding the bracing rods 85 and 86, are permitted to pivot or 'swin around the stan lards 80 and 81 freely. g pair of connecting wires or cables 81,, are connected to the planes 83 and 84 for causing the same to act together. When the aeroplane is in its correct position the planes 83 and 84 will be in the position shown in Fig. 2, but when tilted to one side the Weights 88 and 89 c0nnected to one end of each of the planes will move the planes pivotally, whereby the same is caused to engage the air as the aeroplane continues in flight and, by such an engage ment will cause a resistance to the flight in such a direction as to tend to right the ma chine or bring the machine back to an equilibrium. It will be observed that when the machine is moving straight to the front directly without any side tilting, the planes "53 and 84 are edgewise to the line of flightand will not cause an appreciable resist ance,

but when moved pivotally around the stand-- ards 80 and 81 will cause more or less ustance, and consequently a pushing action for bringing the aeroplane back to its correct osition. The action of these planes it will he observed, is absolutely automatic and caused largely by the weights 88 and 89 connected to one end of the planes.

The engine 50 may be of any desired construction and may be controlled in any desired manner, the samebeing used for driv ingrthe propeller 50. I

he wheels 38 and 39 are provided with coaster brake hubs 38 and 39', to the opersting arms of which are connected cords stion I Letters rting plane .plane and extending in the same direction fore and aft, and means for bodily tilting the entire supporting the angle of incidence auxiliary planes are a air, the said iinixiliary ing members and inrrcas i cording to the angle i in propelling means ihismiiiifil porting plane, and stem iaag mean 2-. In an aeroplane, a appearing; frame for supporting id with an arc-shaped loner mrti shaped lower poi i torn-led in cross section. a

plane for changing thereof whereby the plane, a

form co ing into one of the groovirs of said I-shaped lower portion of said mention for guiding the supporting plane in respect to the gravity actuated frame, means for propelling. the aercpiarey and n'mans for steering the same. 9

In an aeroplane wpoori'ing plane,

propelling moans thaw-rt: 4 lneai'is,

menus for changing the an oi incidence of said supporting m: a r oi pivotally mounted stzzliiliai "winged at a 1 ar plane, a

dihedral angle to :.i;

cscn of said weight i cred Illilll? for causing in by gravity slu is tilted sidew fie connecting n stabilizing name to this specific two subscribin f Witne GfiOllGi',

Witnesses: I

'linonss J. 1).; J 011x R lilzacmsn. 

